Internships

Through our internship program, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) offers students valuable, real-world work experience. This unpaid internship provides participants with the opportunity to explore careers in research, media, communications, arts and culture, archiving and library science, and community outreach. Upon successful completion of the program, CENTRO will provide you a certificate of completion and graduation cord. Explore our available internship positions below.

After you have submitted your application, you will be contacted to schedule an interview. Should you have any questions, please email the Outreach and Partnerships Unit at centrofl@hunter.cuny.edu.

Summer 2025 Internship Opportunities: 

Application form closes on May 23rd, 2025 at 11:59 pm or when all positions have been filled.

Diasporican Art in Motion (DAM) Research Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies is seeking a Diasporican Art in Motion (DAM) Research Intern for Summer 2025. CENTRO’s Arts & Culture Hub supports both the research process of artistic creators, and the production of scholarly research focused on Puerto Rican artistic expression. 

The goal of this internship is to help participants develop skills in a professional work environment and learn more about working in the Arts & Culture field. The intern will be working closely with the Arts & Culture team on projects related to artistic residencies, exhibitions, partnerships with other cultural institutions, free public programming and artist talks.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Gather artist bios for DAM database
  • Assist in data entry
  • Research and create bibliographies
  • Assist in digitizing catalogs and other materials as needed
  • Assist in website updating and artist profile uploading
  • Organization of artist materials and file management

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Artist engagement
  • Project research
  • Data analysis and management
  • Digitizing and use of digitizing equipment
  • Website building
  • Experience with Gsuite, Microsoft Office, and task management software
  • Insight into the Arts & Culture sector
  • Research techniques
  • Organization skills 
  • Written communication

PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • Detail-oriented and good organizational skills
  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Positive attitude and the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
  • Strong interest in Puerto Rican Studies
  • Strong interest in Contemporary Art
  • Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite 
  • Fluency in Spanish and English is helpful
  • Students can come from the following disciplines: Fine Art, Art History, Communications, Media, Cinema or Cultural Studies Latinx, Latin American or Caribbean Studies, Spanish, Linguistics, Literature

Library Assistant Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies is looking for a Library Intern for the Summer 2025 semester to join our Library and Archives Unit. The Centro Library and Archives is a treasured place where researchers, academics, teachers, students, genealogists, filmmakers, and the community at large find primary (historical documents) and secondary sources about the history and culture of the Puerto Rican diaspora. The Digital Collections provide access to photographs, documents, artifacts, art, maps, oral histories, moving image and audio clips, and other digitized or born digital material pertaining to stateside Puerto Ricans.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Retrieve and shelve library and archival material for patrons. 
  • General upkeep of library reading room and its collections. 
  • Supervision of researchers. 
  • Cleaning and organizing library stacks. 
  • Other tasks as requested.

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Learn about how libraries and archives function.
  • Library of Congress classification system. 
  • Learn how to navigate CUNY databases and resources. 
  • Learn about the history of Puerto Rican communities in the United States. 
  • General organizational and research skills.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • Interest in Puerto Rican and Latino/Latin American History.
  • Knowledge of computer software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe, Google services)
  • Strong organization and time-management skills; attention to accuracy and detail is essential.
  • Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, make constructive recommendations, interpret and apply policies and procedures, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved.
  • Spanish language knowledge.
Media Production Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies is seeking a Media Production Intern for the Spring 2025 semester to join our Media Unit. Since its founding as a Task Force in 1974, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies’ Emmy-Awarded Media Unit has covered diverse topics in the diaspora and within the archipelago including Hurricane Maria and its aftermath, Puerto Rican pioneers, diaspora musicians and artists, and the socio-economic systems within the U.S. and in Puerto Rico among many other topics, as well as documenting the work of CENTRO. With a diverse group of media professionals at its disposal, including animators, graphic artists, documentary filmmakers, journalists, and content creators, they are invested in ensuring that its reach widens and evolves with the diaspora.

Students will assist in the production and post-production of CENTRO’s documentaries and video projects. Students will work hand in hand with the current staff as they research, plan, and shoot material for projects, including a major docuseries as well as other video projects.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Conduct research for video production and other educational projects
  • Help maintain equipment inventory
  • Assisting during shoots and post-production
  • Assist in server organization
  • Assist in event photography

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Camera and sound operating 
  • Editorial process
  • Event photography
  • Data management
  • Visual storytelling
  • Project research

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • Managing digital and film equipment
  • Basic knowledge of Adobe Suite
  • Interest in documentary filmmaking
Partnerships & Outreach Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies is seeking a Partnerships and Outreach Intern for the Summer 2025 semester to join our Partnerships and Outreach Unit. Our Partnerships and Outreach team collaborates with community organizations and leaders to create meaningful projects and programs that enhance cultural awareness and address social issues. This entry-level position provides participants with a professional learning experience and knowledge about the field of Puerto Rican Studies.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Assist in expanding CENTRO’s presence and engagement within the community.
  • Research and identify potential community partnerships and educational opportunities with local, national, and international organizations.
  • Support the planning, organization, and execution of community events and initiatives.
  • Participate in meetings and discussions with prospective partners.
  • Engage with community members and organizations to foster relationships that align with CENTRO’s mission and values.

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Intern will learn how to: 
    • Engage with community organizations and leaders
    • Identify and cultivate relationships with organizations that align with CENTRO’s mission and objectives.
    • Plan, organize, and execute community events
    • Write professional emails, reports, and proposals, and learn how to speak confidently in meetings and discussions with potential partners.
    • Research potential partnership opportunities and analyze how they align with CENTRO’s goals, programs, and mission.
    • Managing multiple tasks, keeping projects organized, and working with deadlines
    • Understand the Puerto Rican diaspora’s cultural identity and related social and political issues
    • Be able to work collaboratively with a team, as well as independently

PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • Strong passion for Puerto Rican Studies and a demonstrated interest in CENTRO’s mission.
  • Excellent organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.
  • Good oral and written communication skills to effectively engage with community members and partners.
  • A positive, proactive attitude and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Experience or interest in community outreach, event coordination, or partnership development is a plus.
Taino Codex Research Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) is looking for a Taino Codex Research Intern for the Spring/Summer Semesters of 2025. This intern will support the work of CENTRO’s Artist in Residence, Glendalys Medina, who is working on the Taino Codex Research Project in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC). This project focuses on making Taíno pictographs more accessible to diasporic audiences and beyond, offering a deeper understanding of the myths and culture through a Nuyorican Diasporic Perspective. If you’d like to read more about Medina’s project, click here.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Write chapter, book and article notes in both languages
  • Scan Images into PDF format
  • Add materials to Google Drive
  • Some CENTRO on-site research
  • Read 14-18 books and articles (100-300 pages each)

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Learn how to write 2-page notes on any written material for future reference.
  • Focusing on:
    • Citation style
    • Author’s Thesis
    • Geographic & Demographic Scope
    • Sources and Methods
    • Section Topics
    • Findings Offered
    • Assessment of the Work
    • Context of the Work
    • Quote Bank

PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • Fast reader in both Spanish and English
  • Write Spanish and English
  • Experience with Google Drive Suite 
Taino Codex Digital Research Intern

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) is looking for a Taino Codex Research Intern for the Spring/Summer Semesters of 2025. This intern will support the work of CENTRO’s Artist in Residence, Glendalys Medina, who is working on the Taino Codex Research Project in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC). This project focuses on making Taíno pictographs more accessible to diasporic audiences and beyond, offering a deeper understanding of the myths and culture through a Nuyorican Diasporic Perspective. If you’d like to read more about Medina’s project, click here

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Gather digital data on migration, music, labor, and families from the CENTRO archives
  • Scan images and create copies of audios for use 
  • Add materials to Google Drive  
  • Create QR Codes of collected data
  • Add content to website

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:

  • Create QR codes and organize them into a website page. 
  • Gather and organize material for future reference. 
  • Create QR codes and organize them into a website page. 
  • Collect digital data in these areas: 
  • Migration of Puerto Ricans to major cities (NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, 
  • Orlando, West Coast)
    • Labor  
    • Music  
    • Families

PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • Organized
  • Detail oriented
  • Experience with Google Drive and scanning apps 
  • Some experience with Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)  
  • Some experience with QR codes
  • Fast learner
Translation Intern (HUNTER COLLEGE STUDENTS ONLY)

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies Education Unit is seeking a Translation Intern from Hunter College’s Spanish Translation and Interpretation Department for the Summer and Fall 2025 semesters. 

Our Translation Internship supports CENTRO’s mission by ensuring accessibility to our research, educational and archival materials, and public-facing content in both Spanish and English. The goal of this internship is to help students develop professional translation skills in a real-world setting while gaining valuable experience in the field of language accessibility and cultural preservation. The intern will work closely with CENTRO’s Education Unit on projects involving the translation of lesson guides, educational activities, archival documents, outreach materials, and digital content. Interns will also assist in language accessibility efforts for public programming and bilingual communication.  

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

  • Translate a variety of materials, including lesson guides, archival documents, and outreach materials, from English to Spanish and vice versa. 
  • Proofread and edit translated content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. 
  • Collaborate with CENTRO staff and other interns to align translations with the organization’s goals and tone. 
  • Assist in the creation of bilingual content for social media and other outreach platforms. 
  • Support language accessibility efforts for CENTRO’s digital and archival collections. 
  • Participate in workshops and events focused on translation and Puerto Rican studies. 

INTERN WILL LEARN/DEVELOP:  

  • Advanced translation and interpretation skills, including the ability to handle specialized terminology. 
  • Editing and proofreading techniques specific to translation work. 
  • Research skills to ensure accurate context and meaning in translations. 
  • Knowledge of Puerto Rican history, culture, and the diaspora experience. 
  • Experience working with archival documents and historical texts. 
  • Time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines and balance multiple projects. 
  • Professional communication and collaboration in a hybrid work environment.

PREFERRED SKILLS:  

  • Enrollment in the Spanish major with a concentration in Translation and Interpretation preferably in their final year of studies. 
  • Strong proficiency in both Spanish and English (spoken and written). 
  • Attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work. 

Apply Here